Bemetra Simmons Named to Florida Nonprofit Alliance Board of Directors
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA), a statewide association of nonprofits focused on research, collaboration and advocacy, has appointed Bemetra Simmons to its board of directors. Simmons currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of regional business leaders working together to improve the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents.
“Inviting Bemetra Simmons to join our board of directors was an easy decision,” stated Elizabeth Barbella, Chair of the FNA board of directors. “She is a gifted leader and someone who understands why advocating for the nonprofit sector is important for the entire community. Myself along with all the other board members feel very fortunate to have her as part of our team.”
“I’m thrilled to join the FNA board,” said Simmons. “As the only organization in Florida advocating on behalf of the state’s entire nonprofit sector, FNA has a unique role to play in advancing the lives of all Floridians. I will work to make an impact being part of this organization’s board of directors.”
Prior to her current role with the Tampa Bay Partnership, Simmons was the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at United Way Suncoast. Additionally, she spent over 16 years in the financial services industry, having held leadership and executive leadership roles at Mutual of Omaha Bank, Wells Fargo, and BB&T.
She is active in the community and serves on various boards including the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Jacksonville Branch, Visit Tampa Bay, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission Board and St. Leo University. Simmons is a Leadership Tampa graduate and a member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVIII. She was named a finalist for the Business Woman of the Year by Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine in 2023. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Simmons received a B.S. in business administration from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, and an MBA from Wake Forest University.
Along with her twin sister, Demetra, Simmons co-founded Corporate Homie, a career, lifestyle, and advice company and podcast dedicated to assisting professionals in navigating the waters of corporate America.
For more information about the Florida Nonprofit Alliance, please visit https://www.flnonprofits.org/.
About the Florida Nonprofit Alliance
The Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA) is the state association of nonprofits focused on research, collaboration and advocacy. Our mission is to inform, promote and strengthen Florida’s nonprofit sector. We provide a collective voice at the state and national levels, educating elected officials and constituents, and serve as a central resource and referral center for and about nonprofits. Florida's nonprofit sector is a powerful economic driver. The state’s 22,710 nonprofits employ more than 456,000 people and pay annual wages of over $27 billion. This equates to seven percent of Florida's workforce, in line with the construction and manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit www.flnonprofits.org.